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Post by aircraftclocks on Feb 18, 2016 1:03:43 GMT 12
As a teenager in the 70's I went to visit a school friend in the hills near Waerenga approximately -37° 19' 48", 175° 19' 48".
We climbed to the top of the highest hill one day to see the sights, which would have been the Firth of Thames.
At the top was a redoubt, which my friend said was a WWII observation post.
Anyone have any information on observation posts in use in WWII and where they may have been located?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 18, 2016 9:53:33 GMT 12
The Home Guard and the NZ Army had such posts all around NZ, and not just on the coast. For example the Cambridge Home Guard built one on top of a hill near Lake Karapiro. They were simply to watch for any suspicious movements or possible invasion forces. Most will have disappeared back into the land now.
Some such posts were more permanent, concrete bunkers can still be seen around some coastal areas - loads around Auckland's North Shore for example, and one on the beach at Raglan come to mind.
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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 18, 2016 13:03:58 GMT 12
In West Auckland a long time local historian listed all the posts, tank traps and barriers from Manuakau Harbour up to Muriwai.
It was a typed list and had dozens listed. There wont be many copies but the author was a chap named Jack Diamond , who had written a lot about the Kauri milling days and the small trains that ran down this coast to Manukau Heads.
Stoney Batter on Waiheke is a mega version of the local posts as is its duplicate at Whangaparoa. But a complete list I dont know of one.There are pictures of the two big sites elsewhere on the forum.
I think Cooks three volumes on The Coastal Defences of NZ , are required reading
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 18, 2016 13:08:50 GMT 12
Agreed, look up Peter Cooke's books.
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